Envelope for x-ray plates



April 21,y 1931 w. EDERLE 1,801,546

Y I ENVELOPE FOR X-RAY PLATES Filed Nov. 8. 1929 20/ 20/ 0f v e@ e0 INAME onpociron; DATE l 0R ms'nry'rs.:

07 l NAME oFP^`rnEuL- mu T. SYMPToM L l l' l l/I DIAGNosrs 77 WITNESS/Nl/ENTOR W Wurf@ EN ER/.E 7g. BY

A froze/VE y Patented Apr. 21,- 1931 UNITED STATES WALTER ENDERLE, OFSTUTTGART, GERMANY ENV'ELOPE FOR X-RAY PLATES Application led November8, 1929, Serial No.

My invention relates to envelopes for X-ray plates or films in whichtransparent sheets of a cellulosic material are utilized in connect-ionwith scales and sectional lines on said sheets to fix a particular pointon an X-ray plate positioned within said envelope.

In making a diagnosis by means of X-ray films, physicians find itnecessary to determine the exact position of certain anatomical organsof the patient with relation to other internal parts, or their exactcondition with respect to the location of a center of disorder causingthe ailment complained of. In making reports of such diagnoses, it is ofconsiderable advantage to be able to fix the center of disorder andexplain or theorize upon the cause of ailment as reflected by thecondition of the internal organs and their positions with respect towell-known and accepted points of reference inthe anatomical system, andto be certain that the patient or another physician, upon re-examiningthe X-ray plate or film will be able to locate the various points andpositions of the internal organism in precisely the positions which theyoccupied when the radiologist made his report. For this purpose, I havesupplied an envelope for X-ray plates or films, made of sheets of atransparent material, such as celluloid or regenerated cellulose, uponwhich sheets are outlined scales and sectional lines to insure theproper relocation of the X-ray plate or lm within the envelope at anysubsequent reference to such plate or film. yFurthermore, when using myimproved envelope, with its sectional lines dividing the. surface of theX-ray plate into sections of equal size, the whole or portions of suchsections can be easily identified by means of the scale indexes formingthe vertical ordinates and horizontal abscissae of the ordinary graphicoutline. As the envelope is of a definite size, one of each of theclosed side and end edges of the sheets forming the envelope fixes therelationship of the plate with respect to the lines on the face of theenvelope in such a way that the X-ray plate or film automaticallyassumesthe identical position in relation to. the scale marking on the en-405,621, ami in Germany November 2o, 192s.

velope whenever it is placed therein, so long as such plate isjuxtaposed against two adjacent edges of the envelope or into one cornerthereof. The plate is thus self-adjusting within the envelope.

A further advantage of my improved construction lies in the fact that asthe envelopes are most likely to be made in particular sizes, with`correspondingly uniform scale and cross-sectional line notations, aparticular X-ray plate or film may be sent` from laboratory tophysician, from one physician to another, or to a patient, without itsparticular envelope but with merely its diagnosis data, when therecipient, or his medical adviser, should the recipient be the patient,may place the plate or iilm into a standard envelope and thus be able tointelligently interpret 'the diagnosis. The necessity of a separateenvelope for each X-ray plate'is thus eliminated.

While I have explained particular advantages of my invention, I wish itto be understood that I do notl predicate my invention on any single oneof such advantages. In fact, in the particular embodiment of myinvention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I have madeprovision for various identifying data on the particular envelope,indicating the purpose of using said envelope as a permanent holder forthe particular plate.

In the drawings, illustrating only one embodiment of my invention, Fig.l is a full front view of an envelope made in accordance with myinvention, Fig. 2 is a section along lines 2 2 of Fig. l, and Fig. 3 isa section along lines 8 3 of Fig. l. The envelope body l0 is made of atransparent material, such as celluloid, or similar cellulosic material,in sheet form, and comprises a front sheet A11 and a back sheet 12,shown in the drawing in exaggerated cross-section, joined at their sideedges and one of their end edges to forma receptacle or envelope, oneend of which is open, as at 13. The envelope may, of course, be formedof a single sheet of transparent material by folding it over upon itselfin which case only its meeting edges and one of its pairs of end edgesneed be joined together, as by Ioverlapping and pastlng.

To the open end of the envelope thus formed, I attach a strip of .paperor similar opaque and strengthenin material in the form of.a strip 14attache to the front sheet ll by eyelets 15 and/or Wire staples 16. 'Thestrip 14 may be provided, in the preferred elnbodiment illustrated, withflange portions 17 adapted to be bent around the edges of the envelopeand attached to the back sheet l12 by eyelets 18. Upon the strip 14 maybe printed the identifying data, such as the name of the doctor, thename of the patient, the diagnosis, date, etc. and space providedthereon for filling in such other information as may be required.

Upon the front sheet 11 are outlined section lines 19 forming ordinates20 and absciss 21 of the familiar graphic structure. These section linesare so spaced as to define specific areas outlined by cooperating scales22 and` 23 printed on the face of the sheet along the vertical andhorizontal edges thereof, the scale 22 comprising a series of graduatedpoints designated by capital letters A, B, C, etc. and corresponding tothe several horizontal section lines 21 and the scale 23 com rising aseries of graduated points identifi and corresponding to the verticalsection lines 20. ItV will thus be apparent that the Section lines andscales being both outlined upon the single sheet 11, it is unnecessaryto bring them into cooperative vrelationship with each other before arapid and correct location of any particular point in a specific area`vupon the X-ray plate positioned within the envelope can be made, so longas the X-ray plate is held fiush against thescale edges of the envelope.Thus, if a center of disorder has been once established as being withinthe area bounded by vertical scale-lines 2 and 3 and horizontalscale-lines C and D, such area being conveniently designated as 2 3,C-D, such center can be identified at any future time by inserting theX-ray plate into the envelope so that the plate is flush against thescale edges. In this manner any explanation accompanying a diagnosis maybe subsequently easily followed by reference to the location,facilitated by its identification by letter and number, of any organ,organs, or condition thereof, or relation to each other, indicative ofailment or disease.

If the scales and section lines are chosen with a view to exactmathematical measurement, it is obvious that my improved X-ray platereceptable may serve to assist the diagnostician in making hisdiagnosisbased upon the size, for instance, normal or abnormal, ofaparticular organ ofthe body, or its distance from orposition withrespect to, another organ or anatomical part.

ed by numerals 1, 2, 3, etc.

In the preferred form illustrated in the drawings, I have shown myimproved X-ray plate envelope of transparent material comprising bothfront .and back sheets as I have found that using such an envelope, itis not necessary to use an artificial light when examining the plate orfilm contained therein, but that sufiicient light of the ordinaryintensity existing in the laboratory or ofiice during daylight or atnight from the general lifrhting fixture, may be transmitted through theback sheet to permit the examination of the plate or film and its storywithout strain. I have found, furthermore, that the transparent materialsuch as celluloid is sufficiently moisture-proof, i. e. Waterrepellant,to safeguard a film or plate within the envelope froln outside moisture.For the same reason moisture will not condense upon the cellulosicmaterial, so that if a partially Wet film is placed within the envelope,suc film will not stick to the sheet as would be the case with a backingof paper or similar substance.

While I have described a specific embodi- 'ment of my invention, it isto be underacross said envelope from edge to edge, section-linesintersecting said first mentioned section lines and running from the topof the envelope to the bottom thereof, said lines forming respectivelyabsciss and ordinates, each of said section lines having scale markingsassociated therewith, the X-ray plate when inserted within said envelopebeing positioned with respect to said scale markings by contact of theedges thereof with two adjacent edgesvof the envelope whereby the platemay be at all times retained in the envelope and capable of being readover thev entire surface of the plate by reason of the completetransparency of the envelope.

i WVALTER ENDERLE.

